Paula J. Mcgill's answer
How long have you been gone? What were the circtumstances of your departure? What have you done so far to retrieveyour belongings?

The easiest thing might be to just send an e-mail and letter by priority mail, which has tracking. The correspondence should request a retrieval date as soon as possible. If your housemate refuses, you may have to sue to obtain your belongings. If they have been destroyed, you will have to sue for the value of those belongings.

Paula J. Mcgill's answer
With or without an attorney, you should file in the county where your child and mother reside. One option that is often used is to legitimate the chld, seek formal custody, and resolve the child support issue in one case. If you hire an attorney, it should be cheaper than doing it separately. For your own self interest, it should be better to have formal visitation and obtain shared legal custody. Legal custody will allow you access to school and medical records without having to go through...

If you want to move, you may be able to negotiate a settlement agreement that sets forth the date of the move-out and a payment plan for back rent in return for a dismissal.

If you want to stay, it may be tougher to negotiate a settlement agreement. However, if you pay all that is alleged to be due in the dispossessory notice (including costs) within 7 days of the notice, place the amount paid in the answer,...

Paula J. Mcgill's answer
First, review the current order to determine if the parent has to provide notice of the move or if there are limitations relating to the move. If there aren't limitiations in the order, the parent can move. However, if the move will interfere with the noncustodial parent's visitation, the parent can file a petition to modify custody to obtain full custody or to change visitation based upon the move.

If you are concerned about a potential or actual move, consult with an experienced...

Paula J. Mcgill's answer
If the father is $20,000 behind in child support, you should file a contempt action against him. In that same action, you can also file a petition to modify custody based upon his move out state. This move out of state should be considered a substantial change of circumstances.

You should be able to obtain full physical custody with some visitation to the father, but the court may allow him to retain shared legal custody. Consult with local attorney to determine if it will be worth...

Paula J. Mcgill's answer
Go the magistrate court in your county and see if the landlord actually filed the dispossessory against you. If he has filed, but has not served you personally or through tack and mail, challenge the matter. It may serve you well to consult with an attorney about the matter.

Paula J. Mcgill's answer
If you don't receive payments through child support services, you should write (e-mail or call) and ask him about the payments. If he refuses to pay or claims he cannot pay, you'll have to file a contempt action. You don't necessarily need an attorney to file the contempt action. However, you may want to retain one if you are uncertain about court procedure.

Paula J. Mcgill's answer
If the mother has lived in that state for at least six months, that state has jurisdiction to hear any custody/visitation dispute. Find an experienced family law attorney who practices in the county where your daughter lives.

Child support is based on the needs of the child and the relative income of the parents.

Check the Georgia Child Support calculator. You may be paying signficiantly less than what the calculator states you should be paying. In the meantime, may sure you pay her by check or money order to show you have been supporting your child.

Paula J. Mcgill's answer
More information is needed. Although he is in jail, you still have to have grounds for divorce. The first step should be to consult with a lawyer, especially if you have minor children, marital assets, and/or marital liabilities. An initial consultation does not obligate you to retain an attorney. However, it's a good first step.

Yes, if you don't have grounds for the divorce, he can fight you. However, nowadays, objections to a divorce are rarely successful. In my experience,...

Paula J. Mcgill's answer
More likely than not, no. Go to the Georgia child support calculator to determine the amount for one child. Any disputes may have to be decided by the Court. So, to save money, it may be better to agree to an amount based on the child support calculator and file for a consent order.

Paula J. Mcgill's answer
Get another attorney immediately. You can file a motion for reconsideration or file an appeal. There are time limits for both., so be careful However, next time, be careful of the attorney you choose to represent you. Interview several lawyers before selecting one.

Paula J. Mcgill's answer
There isn't a set time. If you believe the attorney has violated ethical rules, contact the Maryland Appeals Court and file a complaint. They will do an investigation in the matter to determine if the lawyer did anything wrong ethically.

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